OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions
Founded in 1975, The Institute for Security, Defence and Peace is the oldest higher education institution in security matters in the Republic of Macedonia. It is part of the Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje - the eldest and the largest university in Macedonia with a history of 68 years.
The Institute’s main activities primarily revolve around teaching at undergraduate, MA and PhD levels. The post-graduate studies encompass three programmes: Security Studies, Defence Studies, and Peace and Development Studies. Up to date over 1500 students got their BA degrees, 50 students graduated at MA programmes, while over 20 candidates got PhD degrees. The Institute is known for excellence in scholarship, responsiveness to changing national and regional circumstances, and the commitment to concrete improvements in security policy and conflict management. The first civilian minister of defence in independent Macedonia was (now retired) professor Trajan Gocevski, while a number of professors also served in various state (such as state secretary of defence) or NGO posts.
The Institute’s academic staff has been involved in a number of rigorous research projects, nationally and internationally. The Institute works in the following main research areas: international relations and security, conflict resolution and reconciliation, political and economic issues of security and defence, strategic management in security and defence, security sector reform, critical infrastructure protection, terrorism and counterterrorism, human security, human trafficking, environmental security, and private and corporate security.
A selected list of accomplished research projects include the following:
- Climate Change and Security: a Global Issue in a Local Context (ongoing, 2017-2018) in cooperation with Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU);
- Commentary of the Law on Private Security in the Republic of Macedonia (2016), in cooperation with St. Kliment Ohridski University (Bitola) and the Chamber for Private Security of the Republic of Macedonia;
- Defence Reforms in Macedonia (2014-2015) in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia;
- Civic and Uncivic Values in Macedonia: Value Transformation, Education and Media (book project) (2010-2012), in collaboration with CSCW, PRIO, Oslo;
- Interuniversity 2nd and 3rd Cycle International Relations Study Programs in Macedonia TEMPUS IV project (2009/2012) in cooperation with Gothenburg University, Centre for Global Studies;
- UN Women-Implementation of UN SC Res.1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Macedonia (September/December 2011), in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence.
Other scientific activities (selection):
- International Conference "The Balkans Between East and West: Old and/or New Secuirty Challenges", in cooperation with the Faculty of Security, University of Belgrade, Ohrid, 5-7 September 2017 (forthcoming).
- International Conference "Private Security in the 21st Century: Experiences and Challenges", Ohrid, 15-16 September 2015.
- International Conference "Contemporary Security Paradigms and Challenges: Theory and Practice", Ohrid, 17-19 September 2015.
Contact:
Institute for Security, Defence and Peace
Faculty of Philosophy
bul. Goce Delcev 9A
1000 Skopje, Macedonia
http://ddtest2.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/page/category/news_institutes_en/bezbednost-odbrana-i-mir_20
Representative
Prof Biljana Vankovska
Full Professor of Political Science
Head of MA Program in Peace and Development
Contact: bvankovska@gmail.com
Prof Biljana Vankovska is full professor of Political Science and Head of the MA program in Peace and Development at the Institute for Security, Defence and Peace, Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia. Faculty staff member at the European Peace University (EPU), Stadschlaining, Austria between 200-2014.
Served as Board member of the Macedonian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in 2005/2006. Worked as Senior Fellow at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) in 2001/2002. Guest Senior Research Fellow at Copenhagen Peace Research Institute (COPRI) in 1997-2000. Member of the Executive Board of IPSA/RC on Armed Forces and Society. International Advisor of Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Studies (TFF) in Lund, Sweden.
She has published ten and edited three books and authored over 150 book chapters and scholarly articles, published in Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, India, Romania, Croatia, USA, Switzerland, Austria, UK, etc. She was editor-in-chief of the Macedonian scholarly journal Security Dialogues and currently, she is a member of editorial boards of various international scholarly journals (European Perspectives, International Problems, International Relations and Development, Security Dialogues, Macedonian Contemporary Defence).
Since 2010 she has been a public advocate for the Initiative RECOM (regional commission for the establishment of facts about war crimes and other serious violations of human rights committed in the former Yugoslavia 1991-2001).
